Tape-feeding mechanism



March 26, 1957 Ffw. HUMPHNER TAPE-FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July l5, 1954 BY ,lm

ATTRNEYS,

TAPE-FEEDING MECHANISM Ferdinand W.. Humphnen, River Forest, Ill.,` assignor to Mid-States Gummed Paper Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 15, 1954, Serial Nor 443,563

Claims; (Cl. 27T-2,3)

This, invention relates to tape-feeding mechanism, and more particularly to mechanism for advancing tape for dispensing the same, etc.

The present invention constitutes an improvement in my copending application, Serial No. 399,997, filed December 23, 1953, now abandoned.

In the advancing of tape for a severing and dispensing action, usually the tape is gripped by milled rollers or by other gripping means, and under the pressure of the gripping means the strip body is drawn forwardly to the knife or severing device. The tape, which is usually formed of paper, is thus subjected to severe strain and often to some abrasion. Further, it is highly desirable to incorporate in the tape along the bottom central portion thereof, a reinforcing filament which has the function not only of strengthening the tape but also of providing a tear device which later permits the tape to be severed longitudinally. However, the presence of the filament forms a raised portion on the tape when the tape is passed between rollers, and the tape may be broken along the edges of the filament as it passes between the rollers. A recessed roller may be provided to receive the filament-equipped central portion of the tape, but this, however, causes the remaining portion of the tape to bear all of the force of the gripping or pulling action.

I have discovered that the filament of the tape can be utilized so as to carry a great portion of the longitudinal strain imposed upon the tape, while at the same time utilizing substantially all of the surface of the tape for the gripping action desired and without causing injury to the tape itself, by utilizing a resilient band on a roller or other feeding device in the manner which will be later described.

An object of the present invention is to provide tape feed mechanism of novel construction which is effective for feeding tape containing a filament attached thereto without injury to the tape and while utilizing the tensile strength of the filament. A further object is to provide in a tape-feeding structure a resilient ring or body adapted to receive the portion of the tape to which the filament is attached and to grip the same without injury to the tape body for the advancing of the tape. A still further object is to provide feed mechanism of a novel design accomplishing the results which will be hereinafter set forth. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in simple, illustrative embodiments, by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a feed device embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken front view in elevation, a portion of the structure being broken away and shown in section; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a filament-equipped tape being fed between the rollers of the feed device; and Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modified form of the invention.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, 10

. United States Patent O ice designates a lower roller mounted' upon at shaft 11, and the rollerl is preferably equipped with knurlingor superficial roughening. 12 designates an upper roller mounted upon` al shaft 13.r which may be equipped with a handle or crank arm 14 for rotating theI roller; It will be understood that theV shaft 13 or the shaftr 121,` or both, may be rotated' by' motor means or by any`I suitable-` means for' the advancingy of. tape therebetweeni.- j A In the illustration given, the upper rollerv 12A is providedl centrally with a recess1`5V which` receives a resilient band or ring 16 formed of rubber, artificiali rubber, or any other suitable resilient' material. It will be understood that any type of roller surface may bef used.Y

In. the: operation off the structure shown,V a` tape. strip 17, provided centrally with` a filament 158,V is advanced between the rollers. The tape 1-7rmay be formedl of paper, fabric,wor` any suitable material, and the filament 18 may be formed of plastic, textile materiali, andanqI other suitable material, and the filament may be bonded to the tape 17 by the adhesive layer which normally appears at the bottom of the tape 17 or by pressuresensitive adhesive, or any other adhesive material. I prefer to utilize a filament 18 having substantial tensile strength so that this strength may be utilized in the advancing of the tape 17 and so as to carry a substantial portion of the friction required to advance the tape.

The resilient band 16 may be formed of relatively soft, springy material or, for other purposes, of relatively stiff resilient material. Where the tape is quite fragile in character, and it is desired to exert as little stress as possible upon the central portion of the tape carrying the filament 18, the ring 16 is preferably formed of soft, readily-yielding material so as to provide the desired gripping action, while exerting no severe pressure against the central bulged portion of the tape. On the other hand, when the tape 17 is relatively tough and it is important to apply as great gripping action as possible to the tape, it may be desirable to employ a relatively stiff rubber or resilient body 16 which will exert substantial pressure upon the filament-enclosing portion of the tape.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, both the upper roller 19 and the lower roller 20 are provided with resilient bands or rings 21 and 22, respectively. The shafts 23 and 24 may both be driven by machine means or manual means, or one of the shafts may be mounted as an idler while the other shaft is driven. In the structure shown in Fig. 4, there is the added advantage in that the lower resilient ring 22 physically grips the filament 18 itself so that there is a gripping not only of the tape but of the filament as the filament-equipped tape is advanced therebetween.

It'will be understood that the feed device shown may be incorporated in any type of tape-dispensing machine and in other forms of machines in which filamentequipped tape is to be utilized.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth specific structures in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a tape-feeding mechanism, the combination comprising a tape having an adhesive coating on a side thereof and a tear filament extending longitudinally therealong, and a pair of cooperating feed rollers mounted for rotation with surface portions thereof in juxtaposition for feeding tape therebetween, each of said rollers having a firm roller surface for gripping tape in a feeding operation, and at least one of said rollers having a compressible resilient ring alignable with the tear filament of a tape for inward yielding to accommodate the thickness of a tape and its filament while frictionally engaging the lsame, whereby the longitudinal strain imparted to a tape in a feeding operation is carried in part by the tear filament.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 in which said resilient ring is provided on the roller engageable with the side of .the tape remote from said tear filament.

3. The mechanism of claim `l in which each of said rollers is provided with a compressible resilient ring yalignablc with the tear iilament of a tape.

4. In a tape-feeding mechanism, the combination comprising a tape having an adhesive coating on a side thereof and a tear filament extending longitudinally therealong in anchored relation with the adhesive coating,

surface for gripping tape in a feeding operation, and at least one of said rollers being equipped with a continuous band of compressible resilient material alignable with the tear filament of a tape for yielding inwardly to accommodate the thickness of a tape and its filament while frictionally engaging the same, said rollers having a substantially continuously even surface from end to end thereof, whereby the longitudinal strain imparted to a tape in a feeding operation is carried in part by the tear lament and the tear filament is accommodated Without cracking the tape in the feeding thereof.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 in which said substantially rigid surfaces are supercially roughened.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 202,992 Clark Apr. 30, 1878 884,811 Garst Apr. 14, 1908 1,998,931 Kellogg Apr. 23, 1935 2,092,177 McClay Sept. 7, 1937 2,247,874 Crites uly 1, 1941 2,654,598 Krueger Oct. 6, 1953 

